Human Values in Sacred Scriptures

Islam

Prophet Muhammed says: "Feed the Hungry and visit the sick and free a captive if he be unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed whether Muslim or Non-Muslim. Charity is a duty unto every Muslim. He who hath not the means thereto, let him do a good act or abstain from an evil one. That is his charity. Every good deed is charity and to extend consideration towards Neighbours and send them presents are charitable acts. A man cannot be Muslim till his heart and tongue are so."

"You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another". "The best Muslim house is that in which an orphan has benefited and the worst Muslim house is that in which an orphan has been ill treated."

The Holy Koran says: "and those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein."

Buddhism

Lord Buddha has said: Goodwill to all beings is True Religion, Cherish in your hearts boundless goodwill to all that lives. He who recognises the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy and its cessation, has fathomed the Four Noble Truths. He will walk in the right path.

Whatsoever is originated will be dissolved again. All worry about the self is vain, the ego is like a mirage and all the tribulations that touch it will pass away. They will vanish like a nightmare and when the sleeper awakens, - He who has awakened, is free from fear, He has become Buddha. Happy is He who overcomes all selfishness.

Lord Buddha also says: "Tolerance, patience and understanding are the highest virtues every man should develop. We are the results of what we were and we will be the results of what we are."

The Dhammapada says: The doer of good delights here and hereafter; he delights in both the worlds. The thought "Good I have done" delights him. And he delights even more when he has gone to the realm of bliss".

Christianity

Jesus told his disciples, "There are many rooms in my Father's house. If there were not, I would not have told you."

A young man asked Jesus, 'What must I do to inherit eternal life'? Jesus replied, "Honour your mother and father, and love your neighbour as yourself. If would be complete, go, sell your goods and donate it to the needy, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, Come, follow me."

Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God: "Then the king shall say unto them, on this right hand, Come, ye, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for your from the foundation of the world, For I was hungry, and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink, naked and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. Then the righteous will say to him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? When did we see thee naked and clothe thee, when did we see thee sick or in prison? And the Lord sayeth to them, For as often as you have done to the least of my brethren, you have done this unto Me."

Sikhism

"Let no man be proud because of his caste. God created all men - all men are moulded of the same clay." The 'Great Potter' has merely varied all the shapes of them. There is no greater penance than patience, no greater happiness than contentment, no greater evil than greed, no greater virtue than mercy, and no greater potent weapon than forgiveness.

Guru Nanak says: Those people who love and sow in their hearts the seed of his Name, are liberated from death and birth again and again, and get salvation forever without pain. Such people whose mouths and tongues make many others clean and pure. True is the Lord, true is his Holy word: His Love has been described as Infinite."

"Without practising virtue, devotion is not possible. Or the things to be renounced, the most to be recommended are lust, hatred and avarice. Hear thus! Meditating on Hari's Name (God's name) - do Charity to all."

Judaism

Every man should devote much time to meditation between his Creator and himself. He should judge himself and determine whether his actions are correct, and whether they are appropriate before the Lord who has granted him life, and Who is gracious to him every moment. If he finds he has acted properly, he should fear no one - no officials, no robbers, no beasts. When he learns this, he will have attained first: perfection in the study of Torah and its meekness; and second, perfect worship wherein all material considerations are forgotten; worship which asks for no personal benefits, and which prompts one to forget his very existence.

If the poor asks of you and you have nothing in your hand to give him, soothe him with words. It is forbidden to rebuke a poor man or to raise one's voice again him in a shout, for his heart is shattered and crushed, for it is written, "A broken and contrite heart, Lord, you will not despise". And it is written, " I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Zorastrianism (Parsee)

Now I will proclaim to those who will hear the things that the understanding of man should remember, for hymns unto Ahura and the prayers to Good Thought; also the felicity that with the heavenly lights, which through Right shall be beheld by him who wisely thinks.

Help me so to live my God, that when death extinguishes my life, I may yet live upon the earth in my good thoughts, and good words and good deeds, when my soul dwells with thee in heaven.

Life is kind to us, life is cruel to us, life sits light, and life sits heavy upon us, life is sunshine and life is darkness, life is joy and life is sorrow, life blooms and blossoms, life withers and fades. Life upon earth, O Lord, is a blend of contradictions.

Life and suffering are inseparable, and the world is a rough place to live.

Let me be up and let me work actively and strenuously while yet I may and let me die in harness when it pleases thee to call me back to heaven, Ahura Mazda.

I am at peace with the world, but not at peace with my conscience, for a fierce struggle goes in on the depths of my soul. The fire of sincere penance will cleanse my heart of its impurity. Let my penitence sweep away sin from my heart even as a powerful wind sweeps over the plain and carries away everything with it. Let my sin be absolved for I will amend my way and sin no more.

All religions come from one and the only God, who makes himself known by many a name. From the same source, like the tributaries of a river, they flow. All religions make man equally good upon earth and with equal safety do they conduct his soul to heaven. One alone is truth and all religions teach this truth, for religion itself is truth.

Hinduism

Swami Vivekananda, who took the torch of Hinduism to the Western World has said:

"Truth, purity and unselfishness - where ever these are present, there is no power below or above the sun to crush the possessor thereof. Equipped with these, one individual is able to face the whole of the universe in opposition."

"Where should you go to seek for God? Are not all the poor, the miserable, the weak - Gods? Why not worship them first? ... Let these people be your God - think of them, work for them pray for them incessantly - the Lord will show you the way. Purity, patience and perseverance are the three essential to success - and above all, Love."

"Hindus accept every region, praying in the mosque of the Muslim, worshipping before the fire of Zoroastrians, kneeling before the Cross of Christians, knowing that all the religions, from the lowest fetishm to the highest absolutions, means so many attempts of the human soul to grasp and realise the infinite, each determined by the conditions of itís birth ad association, and each of them marking a stage of progress. Be thou holy and above all, sincere and do not for a moment give up your trust in the Lord, and you will see the Light. Whatever others think or do, lower not your standard of purity, morality and love for God. Truth alone triumphs - not untruth... In this world always take the position of the giver. Give everything and look for no return. Give love, Give help, Give service. Give any little things you can, but keep out barter."